WILLIAM HOGE
Army General William M. Hoge was a highly decorated senior United States Army officer who fought with distinction in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, and had a military career spanning nearly 40 years.
General Hoge was born on the campus of Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, on January 13, 1894. When he was eleven years old, the family moved to Lexington, where his father served as principal and superintendent at Wentworth Military Academy. William graduated from Wentworth in 1911 received an appointment to West Point.
He participated in World War I as the commander of the 7th Engineer Regiment, 5th Division. For his heroic action under fire as a battalion commander during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, he was presented a Distinguished Service Cross from General John Pershing.
During World War II, General Hoge directed the construction of the ALCAN Highway, one of the great engineering feats of that war. He later directed Combat Command B of the 9th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge. The unit successfully captured the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Ramagen. This event gave the Allies a foothold deep in Germany, and hastened the end of the war by providing a way to transport troops, tanks and supplies.
Following the war, General Hoge returned to Lexington. He died October 29, 1979, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
E.G. Marshall portrayed General Hoge (named General Shinner) in the 1969 movie “The Bridge at Remagen.
LTC HAROLD SCHRIER
Harold Schrier was born October 16, 1917, in Corder, Missouri. The family moved to Lexington, where he attended high school.
Schrier enlisted joined the Marine Raider Battalion in 1942. He was promoted to platoon sergeant in April of that year. By June, he was sent to Midway Island to bolster the garrison there. He participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal, and then in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. After other assignments he found himself as part of the fifth assault wave on the beach closest to Mount Suribachi.
On February 23, 1945, LTC Chandler Johnson ordered a patrol to climb Mount Suribachi. First Lieutenant Harold Schrier, volunteered for the mission and was handed the American flag from LTC Johnson. Schrier was to reach the summit and raise the flag to signal the mount had been captured. After climbing an hour under heavy enemy fire, the patrol reached the summit. A second, larger flag was raised later that day. That flag is depicted in the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal. For his actions, Lt Schrier was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism.
After being promoted, Captain Schrier was sent to Korea with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in July of 1950. He was wounded at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Schrier portrayed himself in the movie “The Sands of Iwo Jima.”
In May of 1951, Schrier was promoted to Major, and later to Lieutenant Colonel. He died in Bradenton, Florida June 3, 1971, and is buried at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida.
LEONARD TUCK SMITH
Leonard Tuck Smith was born October 29, 1915, in Mayview.
Leonard was accepted into the US Naval Aviation Cadet program in 1938, and earned his gold aviator’s wings in 1939. His naval career spanned four decades, three wars, and a host of commands in aviation and blue-water billets. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in early 1941, before the US entered the war. President Roosevelt had decided to aid the British in the war with Germany. Smith and other USN pilots had to maintain secrecy about their mission so the US would appear neutral.
Leonard is often considered to be the first American involved in World War II.. He was acting as a copilot of No. 209 Squadron RAF which was assigned as a search and rescue plane. His plane was charged with finding the Bismarck after the Battle of Denmark Straight. Smith was at the controls when the ship was spotted at 10:10 on May 26, 1941. After he found it, he circled overhead in the middle of anti-aircraft fire as he radioed the British fleet. The sighting enabled the British to intercept and sink the Bismarck.
The movie “Sink the Bismarck” chronicles this event.
JOE C.SPECKER
Joe Specker was born January 10, 1921, in Odessa. He enlisted in the Army in September of 1942. He later served in the 48th Engineer Combat Battalion. On January 7, 1944 he volunteered to single-handedly destroy an enemy machine gun emplacement. He was gravely wounded, but continued on before succumbing to his wounds. On July 12, 1944, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict. On the night of 7 January 1944, Sgt. Specker, with his company, was advancing up the slope of Mount Porchio, Italy. He was sent forward on reconnaissance and on his return he reported to his company commander the fact that there was an enemy machinegun nest and several well-placed snipers directly in the path and awaiting the company. Sgt. Specker requested and was granted permission to place 1 of his machineguns in a position near the enemy machinegun. Voluntarily and alone he made his way up the mountain with a machinegun and a box of ammunition. He was observed by the enemy as he walked along and was severely wounded by the deadly fire directed at him. Though so seriously wounded that he was unable to walk, he continued to drag himself over the jagged edges of rock and rough terrain until he reached the position at which he desired to set up his machinegun. He set up the gun so well and fired so accurately that the enemy machine-gun nest was silenced and the remainder of the snipers forced to retire, enabling his platoon to obtain their objective. Sgt. Specker was found dead at his gun. His personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and determination were an inspiration to his officers and fellow soldiers.